The South Delta Leader

Playing a Hero
- Daniel Pi

Watching his limping gait during last Sunday's premiere of the TV movie Terry, Ladner's Shirley Jugtiani wasn't just seeing the Canadian icon Terry Fox.

She was watching her grandson, actor Shawn Ashmore portraying the 21-year-old in his attempt to run a marathon a day across Canada in 1980 to raise money for cancer research.

"He had his gait, it was so exactly like Terry Fox," said Jugtiani. "He moved his hands like Terry."

Jugtiani, along with her husband Gang, are just two of a host of family members living in Ladner who watched their grandson, nephew and cousin play the role of Fox in the recent CTV original movie. Ashmore is better known for his role as Bobby Drake or "Iceman" in the locally shot X-Men movies.

Ashmore's parents, Rick-Jugtiani's son-and Linda, are both former Ladner residents who met while attending Delta Secondary School. They got married at Richmond's Minoru Chapel, and were living in Ladner when Linda gave birth to Ashmore and his twin brother Aaron.

"I think it was just such an honour," Jugtiani said of her grandson landing the role. "We were overwhelmed."

Ashmore's other Ladner grandmother also had positive words for her grandson's recent movie.

"We're very proud of him," said Doris Davis. "I remember that run when Terry did it, so it was great (watching Shawn)."

Ashmore, 25, now calls Los Angeles home while his parents live in Ontario.

Watch Terry this Saturday, Sept. 17, on CTV (channel 9) at 8 p.m.

© The South Delta Leader